2 fraternities, 2 students charged in drinking death

STATE COLLEGE - Police here yesterday charged two Penn State fraternities and two students with misdemeanors in connection with the death of an 18-year-old freshman who fell onto a concrete stairwell after a night of drinking.

University and State College police charged the Alpha Tau Omega and Phi Gamma Delta fraternities each with one count of selling or furnishing alcohol to minors and one count each of unlawful acts relative to alcohol. Joseph Dado of Latrobe was found dead Sept. 21 about 75 yards from Phi Gamma Delta. He had a blood-alcohol level of 0.169 percent, more than twice the legal limit for a 21-year-old to drive.

Facing the same charges are Jennifer Clifford, 21, of Gibsonia, who authorities said bought vodka for Dado and Clifford's underage sister earlier in the weekend; and John Townsend, 21, who authorities said hosted Dado and his friends in his room at the Phi Gamma Delta house.

The fraternities referred calls to their respective national organizations. Officials for both said they had not seen the charges. Townsend's attorney, Andrew Shubin, said in a statement that his client "wishes he had done things differently that night." Clifford could not immediately be reached for comment. - AP